Improvement in car-couplings



n.v M. M ILLER. Car-oplings.

Patented September 30,1873.

e .V me@ `adjacent draw-heads coupled together.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID M. MILLER, or soUTE BEND, INDIANA.

IMPRovEMENT IN cAR-couPLlNGs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,368, dated September 30, 1873; application filed August 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID M. MILLER, of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented a certain Improvement 'in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of carcouplings in which the pin automatically engages an entering link. My improvement consists in the employment, with a coupling-pin supported upon the free end of a plate-spring underneath-the draw-head, and fastened thereto, of a lever which, 'when turned into a vertical, or nearly vertical, position by means of the transverse rock-shaft or rod to which it is attached, will depress the spring, and thereby draw the coupling-pin out of the cavity of the draw-head, and a suitable projection on the draw-head or itsshank, which, when the latter is pushed inward by an approaching car, turns the locking or retaining lever sufficiently to release the spring, by the recoil of which the pin is then passed through the draw-head to lock the link just entered.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a draw-head with my improvements attached, showing the spring bent down by the lever and the coupling-pin withdrawn. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of two Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the end of a car, the draw-head of which is provided with my improvements.

The same letters of reference are used in all the figures in the designation of identical parts.

The draw-heads illustrated are of the kind now in most general use, 'their shanks bearing against suitable burner-springs in the usual well-known manner.

The pin B is operated from underneath the draw-head A, it being secured to the free end of a spring, C, which is in turn made fast at its other end to thev draw-head or its shank, as

clearly shown. An india-rubber cushion, b, placed around the coupling-pin between a collar, b', thereon and the spring C, provides for the necessary oscillation of the pin as it is drawn outward by the spring, and also causes it to assiune its erect position in passing through the draw-head. The pin is placed in a slightlyelongated hole in the spring C, permitting the rocking of the pin spoken of, and secured by a key or nuts. D refers to a transverse rod or rock-shaft, having its bearings in hangers attached to the side sills of the car-body. lIt passes between the draw-head A and the spring C, and, extending to the sides of the car, is provided with crank-arms d and elf, by means of which `it may be readily turned. A lever, E', is firmly secured to this rod directly luiderneath the draw-head. When turned into an erect position, as shown in Fig. l, its long arm e will have depressed the free end of the spring C so far as to draw the pin out of the way of an entering coupling link, F, and its short arm e will bear against a projection, a, on the draw-head. To properly lock the spring in this' position, the lever E must be turned into a `slightly-inclined position, as shown. A stop, c, may also be attached to the spring to prevent the lever being turned back too far. As the draw-head is pushed inward -rby an approaching carA its projection a turns the lever far enough to unlock the spring om the arln a e thereof, and the spring immediately recoils and passes the pin through the draw-head,- as

shown in Fig. 2.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- l. TheY combination of the draw-head A, having a projection, a, pin B, spring C, and lever or prop E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. rlhe combination of the draw-head A a, pin B, spring C, lever or prop E, and rockshaft' or rod D, extending to the sides of the car, I.-substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

3. The combinationof the pin B, spring C, and rubber or other spring b, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: DAVID M. MILLER.

D. l?. HoLLowAY, lB. EDW. J. EILs. 

